The government is planning to revive construction of the stalled Sh34 billion Itare Dam, Water CS Zachariah Njeru has said.
He said the dam project is the only cure to Nakuru’s perennial water shortage. Several industries have relocated because of this problem.
The CS said the government is prioritising the project’s revival while working on other stopgap measures to ensure the populous county has sufficient water supply.
Njeru said Nakuru suffers water shortage because it has no rivers coupled with the effects of climate change.
“To deal with the issue of climate change, we need to plant trees and the government has a target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. Avoid cutting trees because nature is unforgiving,” the CS said.
Njeru said construction of Chemususu Dam, which is supposed to complement water supply in Nakuru, was complete pending laying of pipes.
“Parts of Nakuru Town West, Rongai, Kiamunyi and Kampi ya Moto get water supply from Chemususu Dam,” he said.
Njeru said the World bank will drill 10 boreholes in Section 58 and Nakuru High Girls to boost water supply in the CBD.
“There is a big aquifer with water that does not have fluoride around Nakuru High, there is a plan to drill one borehole for the school so it relinquishes the space to drill the other nine for the CBD’s supply,” the CS said.
Njeru promised to ensure the 110 mosques in the country that do not have title deeds get the documents to keep their land away from grabbers.
“We will work in collaboration with Nakuru branch Supkem chairman and church leaders in the county to secure all churches and mosques by ensuring they have title deeds,” he said.
Njeru spoke at the National Cereals and Produce Board depot on Saturday when he distributed food and other non-food items to Muslims ahead of Ramadhan.
The CS said Muslims always remember the needy in society.
“The government with direct instructions from the President joins Muslims through their acts of kindness to show that it also cares for the less fortunate people,” he said.
Njeru said the food distribution by the government was happening in different parts of the country.
“The President instructed all the Cabinet secretaries and other top leaders in government to travel to different counties and distribute food items and other necessities to our Muslim brothers and sisters,” he said.
The CS recounted his childhood days at Bondeni slums in Nakuru with Muslims and how he learned about the richness of Islam.
He said in collaboration with Muslim leaders, they were planning a football tournament in Bondeni to celebrate Eid.
Njeru said the government has put in place measures to ensure security during Ramadhan.
“The county security team is firm and it will ensure anyone who attempts to breach peace is brought to book,” he said.
The CS was accompanied by Nakuru county commissioner Loyford Kibaara.